Weekly news round-up – Friday 15 January 2021

ILC ARTICLE

15th January 2021

Sector confidence being impacted

An ARC360 webinar poll revealed that 70% of attendees – a diverse mix from across the industry – are ‘cautiously confident’ in a business capacity, looking ahead to 2021. More optimistic, 12% suggested they are ‘very confident’ while 18% said they were ‘less confident than last year’.

This compares with a poll taken on 9 December which highlighted 74% were ‘cautiously confident’ looking ahead to 2021, with 18% ‘very confident’. Six per cent said they were ‘less confident than at the outset of the pandemic’, while three per cent were ‘not confident at all’.

Watch the full webinar or read the overview.

S&G appointed by road risk specialists PRIM

S&G Response has been appointed as the nominated supplier for PRIM – Fleet Standards’ accident management and repairs service.

PRIM works closely with organisations to recognise their commitment to reducing road risk across their fleets. Organisations are recognised by PRIM and enter the accreditation at Bronze level, being awarded higher levels accordingly, with Platinum being the highest level of achievement.

Paul Wilkinson, Business Development Manager at S&G Response, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with PRIM as their nominated supplier of first-class accident management and repair solutions. At S&G Response, we aim to leave a positive and lasting impact on our customers.”

Full story

NBRA shares concerns with stakeholders

NBRA director Chris Weeks has written to 60 senior insurance and accident management figures expressing concerns around some of the pressures the industry faces, expectations for the months ahead and relevant information regarding significant events approaching such as Insurance Industry Regulations (IIR).

Chris said, “Whilst these measures [Lockdowns] are clearly necessary to ease the burden on the NHS, they represent a body-blow to repairers still licking their wounds from the restrictions and repair volume reductions of 2020 as once again we expect claims frequency to plummet in January, February and March to perhaps 50% (or less) of pre-Covid levels.”

Source

Steer Automotive Group makes it double figures

Steer Automotive Group now has 10 sites with the opening of its newest 16,000sqft site in Tamworth. The new site provides an increased geographical footprint, allowing the business to deliver Steer Automotive’s ‘measurably different’ repair experience.

Source

Fix Auto hits first Trustpilot milestone

Fix Auto UK has achieved its first significant Trustpilot milestone after receiving its 500th customer review on the platform.

The network’s overall TrustScore on the global customer review platform is recorded at 4.7 out of five, rating Fix Auto UK and its franchise partners as ‘excellent’ for the customer service delivered.

Fix Auto UK’s Managing Director Ian Pugh said, “We launched our working partnership with Trustpilot towards the end of last year and I’m thrilled to say we have accrued more than 500 organic customer reviews.”

Source

AW Repair Group transforms site number 10

AW Repair Group has completed the transformation and opening of its 10^th site in Boston, Lincolnshire.

The 6,000sqft, Fast Finish Centre ‘fits perfectly’ with AW’s geographical growth strategy, further extending the reach of the business and helped secure 10 jobs locally.

Founder and CEO Andrew Walsh said, “AW Boston will link directly with the group’s TecKnowlogy Centre in Sleaford to utilise its specialisms in mixed material for structural repair and manufacturer approvals.”

AW Repair Group’s 11th site is currently undergoing refurbishment and is due to open in February.

Source

AutoRaise CEO to step down as charity focuses on future

AutoRaise CEO, Bob Linwood, will step down from his role as the charity adapts its strategy, structure, and cost base to enable renewed positive action in 2021 and beyond.

Dave Sargeant, AutoRaise Chairman, explained, “We recognised the need to make significant changes to the cost base for it to remain sustainable for the future. It has therefore been decided with regret that the role of CEO be made redundant. Bob was one of the originators of the charity, so while we are all sad to lose him, this decision is in the charity’s best interests.”

Bob said, “I will leave very proud, knowing that we achieved an awful lot in the four years under my stewardship. I am proud to say we have well and truly put the industry’s skills issues on the map and released the potential in some great repairer businesses to create apprentice opportunities.”

Full story

AGL begins its charge towards EV

A survey by Activate Group has revealed that more than half of its approved network offer on-site charging to repair customers with 80% of respondents ready to offer add-on services for vehicles on charge.

The survey assessed the EV charging capability of its 175-strong repairer network with a view to explore the creation of a national charging network for its customer’s benefit.

Head of Business Services, Activate Group, John Gaynor, said, “As part of our supply chain strategy, we plan to put a UK-wide EV charging network in place for use by our fleet and insurance customers by the end of 2021. This starts with gaining an understanding of the existing capability across our approved network.”

The survey also showed that 80% of respondents would look to offer add-on services, like tyre checks or valet, to drivers making use of the charging network.

Source